Further consultation on proposal to close Pannier Market at night

Posted on: 31 January 2017

North Devon Council is carrying out further consultation on proposals to close Barnstaple Pannier Market at night.

The council, which owns the market, intends to exercise a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which would restrict people from gathering in the market by closing public access in the evenings and overnight.

A public consultation was carried out late last year to find out what local businesses, residents and stakeholders thought of the proposal. Following this exercise, the PSPO has been amended to reflect public concerns regarding anti-social behaviour in the market at night.

Executive Member for Community Safety, Councilor Pat Barker, said: “We had a good response to our first consultation and following some changes, we are now carrying out a further consultation on the proposed Order. Because there is a public right of way through the market, we aren’t able to close it at night without applying the PSPO. Due to the amount of anti-social behaviour going on in the market at night, including vandalism, drinking and even arson, we are very keen to protect the building and the public by closing it at night.”

The consultation on the amended PSPO begins on Thursday 2 February until Thursday 27 April 2017. Have your say online at www.northdevon.gov.uk/consultations or write to Pannier Market PSPO Consultation, North Devon Council, PO Box 379, Barnstaple, EX32 2GR.

6 comments on “Further consultation on proposal to close Pannier Market at night”

As a member of the youth marching band that have a permit to use the pannier market on a Wednesday evening to instruct our young members to march and play,we often have trouble with groups of youths on skate boards making so much noise and when you ask them to leave you take abuse from them,have had issues of bikes being rode through the band,also objects being thrown at the young members,also witnessed and reported criminal damage being caused to the building,also on a personal point of view this is an historical building and needs to be preserved for the town

I have heard that market traders are subjected to their pitches being urinated in and in some instances defecated in which is totally unacceptable…with these and all the other antisocial activities it would appear to me a no brainer!